The decision of Nikola Grbić to exclude players who are not participating in the Nations League from the World Championship squad is definitely firm and uncompromising, all Polish media trumpet. This will certainly spark serious discussions among fans and specialists in Poland, as it affects not only veterans but also key players who have played an important role in the national team's successes.
Without Bieniek and Janusz – what will Poland look like?
The Polish national team has always had a deep bench, but the loss of experienced figures like Mateusz Bieniek and Marcin Janusz will be palpable. Grzegorz Łomacz, Paweł Zatorski, and Łukasz Kaczmarek are also missing from the team that won silver medals at Paris 2024.
Bieniek, who has been battling injuries in recent seasons, probably made the right decision to focus on his recovery, but his absence will leave a void at the net's center. Janusz, on the other hand, was a key figure in game distribution, and his absence raises the question of whether his potential replacements – Marcin Komenda and Jan Firlej – will be able to perform at the same level.
A chance for the youth, but at what cost?
Grbić is clearly betting on rejuvenating the squad and providing opportunities for new players. The inclusion of seven debutants and even a player from the First League (Jakub Nowak) is a bold decision that shows the coach is looking to the future. The question is whether these young athletes will be able to withstand the pressure of a major event like the World Championship.
Kwolek and Butryn – deliberately overlooked?
Another interesting point is the lack of a call-up for Bartosz Kwolek and Karol Butryn, who have been demonstrating a high level in PlusLiga for years. Even more surprising is that Grbić has not even spoken to Kwolek about a possible inclusion in the squad. This raises questions about whether the decision is purely sporting or if there are other factors – for example, discipline, character, or tactical considerations.
🚪❌ Grbić closed the door on a return: "No match practice, no World Championship!"
Asked by a TVP Sport journalist about the possibility of absent players returning for the World Championship, the team's coach replied that it is almost impossible for someone without match practice to prepare for the championship itself, as the break would be too long. In this way, he put an end to speculations about possible subsequent call-ups.
Opposite Hitters: Bartłomiej Bołądź, Bartosz Gomułka, Bartosz Kurek, Aleksiej Naseswicz, Kevin Sasak
Outside Hitters: Bartosz Bednorz, Tomasz Fornal, Michał Gierżot, Wilfredo León, Mikołaj Sawicki, Kamil Semeniuk, Artur Szalpuk, Rafał Szymura, Aleksander Śliwka
Setters: Jan Firlej, Marcin Komenda, Łukasz Kozub, Kajetan Kubicki
Middle Blockers: Sebastian Adamczyk, Norbert Huber, Szymon Jakubiszak, Jakub Kochanowski, Jakub Nowak, Mateusz Nowak, Mateusz Poręba, Jordan Zaleszczyk
LiberosMateusz Czunkiewicz, Maksymilian Granieczny, Kuba Hawryluk, Jakub Popiwczak
Conclusion
Poland has the luxury of an enormous resource of quality players, but every rotation and rejuvenation carries its risks. Grbić clearly relies on a long-term plan, but will this affect the team's performance in the short term? Will the new faces be able to compensate for the absence of experienced stars?
*The coach does not rule out changes that may arise from health or other conditions.
photo: Nikolay Varadinov
